Kumasi, Nov.17, GNA - The Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) has so far trained over 300 hospitality personnel nationwide to inject professionalism in their work ahead of the African Cup of Nations tournament scheduled for next year in the country.

Miss Beatrice Appiah-Kusi, Human Resource Development and Training Manager of the Board, said the training involved front office, food and beverage as well as house keeping services She was addressing the closing session of a crash-training programme organized by the Board in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations for some 120 tourism industry practitioners in Kumasi on Saturday.

The six-day programme was designed to upgrade the skills of the participants drawn from the Ashanti region to ensure excellence in their service delivery.

Miss Appiah-Kusi urged operators of tourist facilities to adhere to the operational requirements of the GTB before, during and after the tournament to retain the nation's image. Mr Ekow Sampson, Chief Architect and Acting Ashanti Regional Manager of GTB said his outfit intended to organize skill training workshops and sensitization programmes for Traditional Caterers and taxi driver to enhance decency and discipline in their work. He said the training, was a continuation series planned to help improve the hospitality industry at all levels in the country. The Regional Manager cited insufficient logistics and personnel as some of the challenges hampering the development of the tourism industry. 17 Nov 07